Time evolution of entanglement in a cavity at finite temperature

• Published in: Physica A Vol. 462; pp. 1261 - 1272
• Main Authors: Figueiredo, E.G., Linhares, C.A., Malbouisson, A.P.C., Malbouisson, J.M.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-11-2016
• Subjects: Entanglement; Finite-temperature; Time evolution; Time evolution; Finite-temperature; Entanglement
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2016.06.128

We consider two identical atoms, taken in the harmonic approximation, inside a spherical cavity filled with a field described by an infinite set of oscillators. The atoms are linearly coupled to the field. Using the dressed-state approach and considering the field modes populated with thermal-distribution, we study the effect of temperature on the time evolution of entangled states of the pair of atoms. We particularly analyze the cases of finite and very-large cavities showing that survival and sudden-death of entanglement can happen at finite temperature.
•Exact entanglement indicators are given for two oscillators in a cavity at finite T.•Entanglement survives at finite T for bipartite systems in a finite (small) cavity.•Sudden death of entanglement at finite T occurs for bipartite systems in free space.